Ari giggles. “One of usis taking Human Psychology 204 because she needs a science credit for her Global Economics major…” She winks and points a finger at me. “And the other one,” she says, her finger swiveling to point at herself, “is taking it because she’sactuallya Psych major.”
I grin.
“Ergo,” she drawls in this hilariously regal English accent that makes us both immediately crack up, “I could deduce that this was about a boy from you looking all forlorn and mopey and lost in thought, and hesitantly asking me if you could ask me a personal question. Because even while you were thinking about asking me, another part of you was wondering if I’d even want to talk about boys because of the unasked question I just answered for you.”
I blink, dumbfounded. “What are you, fucking psychic? How could youpossiblyget all that?”
She laughs. “Well, I cheated a little. The mopey, dreamy looks are one thing.” She points at my neck. “But you’ve also suddenly developed a huge interest in scarves, high collars, and have been wearing alotof concealer on your neck this past week—none of which, by the way, is doingshitto cover what are obviously bite and suck marks.”
My face blooms with heat.
“Also, you’re the only one in our little group who hasn’t ever asked me directly about my sexuality. I figured you were finally going to pull the trigger.”
I frown. “You really don’t mind me asking?”
Ari shrugs. “No?”
“So… You’re straight.”
She shrugs. “I guess? I mean, I’m attracted to men, I suppose.” She suddenly grins widely as she nods past me. “I mean, hello,sploosh.”
I turn, then instantly giggle and blush.
A few hundred feet away, Father Hale is swinging some sort of shovel in the church garden. His henley shirt is unbuttoned, showing off aninsanelymuscled chest dusted with dark hair, and the sleeves are pushed halfway up his veined, thick forearms. His dark hair hangs in his stern, chiseled face, and his shoulders flex as he brings the shovel up over his head again.
I turn back to Arianna, shaking my head.
“That seriouslyhasto be blasphemy.”
She laughs.
“Ever wonder if you’re bi?”
She shrugs and then suddenly reaches over the table. Her finger slides down the two buttons of my blouse I’ve left open since it’s a little warm out, and then deftly pops open a third, which takes the look from “it’s nice outside” to “hey check out the girls”.
I blush as Ari stares at my mediocre cleavage for a moment. Then she shakes her head.
“Nope, sorry,” she shrugs. “Nothing.”
I giggle and swat her hand away before buttoning back up. “Well, I don’t thinkthiscleavage is making anyone switch teams.”
Arianna sighs. “Yeah, so, straight it is.” She shrugs. “I know the clothing choices can be confusing. I dunno. I’m just not into revealing stuff or like, dressing for the male gaze?”
I shake my head. “Hey, you do you. IwishI could turn that part of me off inside and just not give a shit about it sometimes.”
She smiles wryly. “I’ve sometimes wondered if I’m asexual, but…” Arianna nods her chin past me at Father Hale again. “I mean, Goddamn. No pun intended.”
“Amen, sister.”
She refocuses on me. “So, now that you’ve stalled enough… Who’s the guy?”
I suck on my teeth and twist my lips.
“Ooooo!” she giggles. “She won’t say! Howscandalous!” Her brows lift. “Whoa, if it’s Father Hale, youhaveto?—”
“Arianna!” I blurt. “No! I just… Can we skip thewhopart of this questionnaire for now? And any questions aboutwhyI want to skip it?”
“Lena, we can skipanyof this. I’m just here to listen, if you want.”
